With the increasing number of data breaches, the protection of data has become more important. It would seem like every company should take data security seriously, as it costs millions of dollars.

Many brick and mortar stores are suffering because of the tendency of consumers to buy online. According to a study conducted on the behavior of consumers, the majority of online shoppers are reluctant to shop at smaller stores. They believe that online large stores have better data security. A lot of people questioned about the data security of larger firms – when the data breach of JP Morgan Chase came into light.

How to prevent data breach?

Data breaches often erode the trust of the consumers. Hence, it is important to take proactive measures to prevent a data breach. Here, we will discuss 5 security measures to prevent a data breach from occurring in your company.

1       Minimize customer data

Collect and keep the data that is required to fulfill your business requirements. Also, keep the data for a limited period and dispose of it properly – when it is no longer of any use. For example – you can shred the hardcopies and format the hard disks before discarding them. Take necessary steps to encrypt the data you collect so that it is difficult for unauthorized parties to access the lost or stolen data.

2       Firewall installation

A firewall is the primary security barricade that prevents potential cyber-attacks. According to sources, firewall deployment provides an extra layer of protection to the entire system by preventing malicious software and unauthorized connections from entering the network. The best firewall software monitors the traffic movement of the network and detects malicious attack effectively.

3       Protect infrastructure on multiple levels

Close every opportunity for the cybercriminals to exploit kiosks, servers, works stations and point-of-sale terminals. Monitor the traffic by certain a central log of security to identify or alert any unauthorized access on the network. The 5 layers of protection that every business must consider implementing are – performing regular backups, integrating strong data security policies, monitoring employee activities, using encryption and seeking professional assistance.

4       Use real-time sensors

The real-time monitor can help companies protect critical configuration files from unauthorized changes. You will be able to identify the vulnerabilities across the infrastructure and take action against specific activities proactively. This will also help you understand what penetration tests to execute against a set of known possibilities. The physical cyber sensor system comprises a computing platform with sensors, actuators, and wireless access points. These sensors collect the data constantly and perform control activities based on the algorithm.

5       Develop a response plan

With the increasing number of cyber-attacks, a data breach will certainly put the reputation of the company in jeopardy. Develop a cybersecurity incident management plan so that you can respond to an incident effectively. The cyber incident response plan should include – potential cyber-attacks, identifying the threat, assessing the level of threat, responding to the threat and reviewing the plan. The online security measures you take will protect your business from more than 90% of potential threats.

A lot of companies think that IT security is sufficient. However, companies should perform security audits regularly – regardless of whether or not there was a data breach. Also, examining the server and network systems of the organization is important because attackers are likely to exploit the information on open ports, IP blocks, DNS records, etc.

While there is no system to protect your enterprise 100% from all cyber-attacks, enforcing the best data security plan can help companies immensely. AI Cyber Solutions offers AI-based Cybersecurity Solutions that will bump up your security architecture.

For more information, contact us today!